11 Reasons Why Handheld Devices Should Be Banned for Children under the Age of 12

It is common nowadays to see kids playing with handheld devices
like cell phones and tablets. But scientists warn that children below 12
should not be allowed to use these gadgets.
There is no denying about the way technology has helped and changed
our lives. But most of us don’t know how these gadgets are affecting our
kids. You should limit how much your child uses or handles a cell phone
or tablet because these devices can interfere with his/her development.

According
to research, technology has been causing harm to our kids. Despite
knowing this many parents continue to allow their kids to use these
devices without any restrictions. Such gadgets have allowed infants,
toddlers and kids access and enter the viral world where there is
absence of the key factors required for development, learning and
behavior.

Reasons Why Handheld Devices Should Be Banned for Children

Here are the most important reasons why your child should not be allowed access to these handled gadgets:

1. Faster Brain Development

From age 0 to 2 to 21 years, the brain of your child will grow triple
in size. It will keep developing at a very fast pace through these
years. The development of brain in the early years will be based on
environmental stimulus or the shortage of it. The stimulation for brain
development because of overexposure to new technological innovations has
been found to be linked with:

Excessive functions

Lack of attention

Cognitive delays

Enhanced impulsivity

Learning impairment

Reduction in ability for self regulation

2. Slowed Down Development

Current day technology reduces movement for both adults and children.
This can cause delayed development in kids. Because of this, almost one
in three kids entering school suffer from the following:

Delayed development

Negative impact on literacy

Negative impact on academic success

With movement, kids develop learning and attention based abilities.
Keep in mind that technology should not be used to this level in kids
below 12. Otherwise, it can prove to be harmful for the development and
learning abilities of your child.

3. Widespread Obesity

Kids who have gadgets in their rooms are 30% more likely to suffer
from obesity. 25% of all Canadian and 33% of all U.S. kids are
considered to be obese. There are further complications of being obese.
Almost 30% of kids who is obese are likely to become diabetic. Such
kids also have higher risks of heart attack and stroke. Overall, this
can have a serious impact on the life expectancy of the child. It is a
serious point that the current generation of kids (21st century) could
be the first generation that may not be able to live longer than their
parents.

4. Insufficient Sleep

Around 60% of all parents don’t keep an eye on the use of technology
by their kids. Around 75% of children are allowed by their parents to
use technology devices in their rooms. That’s 3 out of every 4 children.
The age group 9 to 10 in this category suffer from sleep deprivation
which further affects their grades.

5. Aggressive Behavior

When exposed to violent media, children can develop aggressive
behavior. Children should not be exposed to visuals of various types of
violence, such as in Grand Theft Auto V games. Such games and TV shows
display murder, mutilation, torture and rape.
Media violence has been classified by the U.S. government as Public
Health Risk because it affects aggression in children. Media is also
reporting increased usage of seclusion rooms and restraints for kids who
have shown aggressive behavior.

6. Mental Illness

The over usage of technology has been found to become a casual factor in the increasing cases of:

Child anxiety

Depression

Attachment disorder

Autism

Attention deficit

Problematic child behavior

Psychosis

Bipolar disorder

One in six children in Canada have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness.

7. Digital Dementia

The fast supply of media content to kids’ brain is contributing to
attention deficit and lack of concentration. It is also affecting their
memory because the brain cuts the neuron tracks towards the frontal
cortex. When your child cannot pay attention to tasks at hand, he/she
cannot learn.

8. Addiction

Addition of more technology to your child’s life will detach you from
your child. In the absence of parental attachment, kids become more
attached to their devices. This can lead to addiction. According to
studies, one out of eleven children between 8 and 18 are suffering from
addiction to technology.

9. Emission of Radiation

The WHO has already classified cell phones to be category 2B risks
due to the radiation emitted by them (May 2011). This makes them
possible carcinogen.
Dr. Anthony Miller of the University of Toronto’s School of Public
Health suggested in 2013, after his research, to reclassify exposure to
radio frequency as 2A. 2A refers to ‘probably carcinogen’, which makes
it an even bigger threat.

10. Negative Impact on Children’s Future

Kids raised on technology (and even receiving their education on it)
are looking forward to a technological world that is not sustainable. It
doesn’t have the power to teach your child the practical life lessons
and skills required for survival. If you allow your child to overuse
technology, it will have a negative impact on their future.

11. Eye Problems

When kids stare at screens for long hours, they will easily suffer
from eye problems. It could cause the development of computer vision
syndrome. When you put a limit to the amount of time they can spend on
screen (30 minutes), it can help in preventing eye problems.